Apparatus and method for automatically electronically testing condoms

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for automatically electronically testing condom includes an inflation tub ( 12 ) that has an internal chamber for housing a plurality of floating condoms ( 24 ). A jug assembly ( 16 ) has a plurality of jugs. Each of the jugs ( 68 ) is mounted on a rotating mounting plate ( 72 ) and receives a condom ( 24 ) from the inflation tub by employment of a plurality of pick-up tubes ( 56 ) as mounted on a rotating disc ( 60 ) driven by a rotating shaft ( 58 ). A mandrel assembly ( 18 ) has a plurality of mandrels which are loaded with condoms after the plurality of jugs is loaded by vacuum suction force from loading tube ( 64 ) mounted on a rotating front turret plate ( 66 ). Each of the mandrels receives a condom from one of the jugs to electronically test the condom on a test drum roller (not shown), thereby permitting separation of acceptable condom articles from failed condom articles in terms of ability to insulate an applied voltage at test drum roller.

This application claims benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No.60/054,481 filed May 1, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for testingcondoms. More specifically, the present invention relates to anapparatus and method for automatically electronically testing condoms.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Conventionally, condoms are electronically tested by manually placing acondom on one of a plurality of mandrels. Approximately 10-20 mandrelsare disposed on the outer periphery of a rotating wheel. Each mandrel isrotatably mounted on the wheel so that the mandrel may rotate about itslongitudinal axis. As the wheel rotates, the condom loaded mandrelpasses by a contoured plate having conductive foam attached thereto thatelectronically determines whether there are any holes in the condom in amanner that is known in the art. This plate is known in the art as atest net. As the mandrel passes by the plate, the mandrel rotates aboutits longitudinal axis about 1½ to 2 revolutions. Thereafter, the condomis rolled off the mandrel and placed in either a good product bin or abad product bin depending upon the results of the electronic test.

This conventional apparatus, which includes manually loading the condomson the mandrels, can only test about 45 condoms per minute and typicallyoperates at an efficiency of between 95 and 100%. Efficiency refers tothe percentage of time that a condom has been properly loaded on themandrel. The apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, testsabout 330 condoms per minute at an efficiency of between 80 and 85%.Accordingly, the present invention tests about seven (7) times thenumber of condoms than the conventional apparatus during any givenperiod of time. While the efficiency of the prior art manner of testingcondoms is relatively high, the total number of condoms that can betested is relatively low. Additionally, because the condoms are manuallyloaded on the mandrel, the prior art manner of testing condoms is quitelabor intensive.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus that automatically loads condoms on a mandrel so that they maybe electronically tested. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus that can automatically process arelatively large number of condoms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theabove object is achieved with an apparatus that includes an inflationtub that has an internal chamber for housing a plurality of condoms. Ajug assembly has a plurality of jugs. Each of the jugs receives a condomfrom the inflation tub. A mandrel assembly has a plurality of mandrels.Each of the mandrels receives a condom from one of the jugs toelectronically test the condom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized todesignate like components, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus for automaticallyelectronically testing condoms in accordance with present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the inflation tub;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the inflation tub;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8—8 of FIG. 7 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the condom receivingcylinder of the inflation tub;

FIG. 10 is a partial, front view of the apparatus, with parts brokenaway;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the jug, with parts broken away;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial front view of a portion of the jugassembly and the finger assembly;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the slide block assembly, including the fingerholder assembly, and also shows the two positions of the jugs;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14—14 of FIG. 12 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 15 is a partial top view of the jug assembly, slide block assemblyand the mandrels;

FIG. 16 is a right side view of the mandrel assembly, the two take-offrollers, the test roller and the sorter assembly;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17—17 and FIG. 16 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 18—18 of FIG. 16 andlooking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19—19 of FIG. 16 andlooking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, an apparatus 10 for automaticallyelectronically testing condoms is illustrated. The apparatus includes aninflation tub 12, a turret assembly 14, a jug assembly 16, a mandrelassembly 18 and a sorter 20.

A single motor 22 preferably rotatably drives inflation tub 12, turretassembly 14 and sorter 20 so that each of these devices rotate insynchronism with respect to each other. Each of the drives arepreferably effected by a belt drive connection. Of course, however,other types of drive connections, such as, for example, a gear drive maybe utilized. Additionally, separate motors, whose rotation issynchronized, may also be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, inflation tub 12 is illustrated in greaterdetail. Inflation tub 12 includes a housing 13 that defines an internalchamber 26. Inflation tub 12 is rotatably driven by motor 22 via beltdrive 23 (see FIG. 2). Inflation tub 12 periodically receives asufficient supply of condoms 24 through an opening 25 into internalchamber 26. Condoms 24 are non-destructively agitated within chamber 26due to the circulation of air or other fluid through central shaft 28.The air enters fixed shaft 28 through an inlet 30 (see FIG. 6) and exitsfrom the shaft into chamber 26 through a plurality of openings 32. Aplate 34 is perforated to permit the air to flow up through the plate.The size of the perforations in plate 34 are such that the condomscannot fall below plate 34. A rotating agitator 36 is disposed withinchamber 26. Agitator 36 is rotatably driven by a reversible motormechanism 38, in a manner known to those skilled in the art. Agitator 36alternatively rotates in opposite directions (similar to a washingmachine agitator) or may rotate continuously in one direction. The airentering chamber 26 from shaft 28, creates an air flow within chamber 26that generally flows from the lower portion thereof to the upper portionthereof. Thus, chamber 26 acts as a fluidized bed to maintain thecondoms in a floating state, and generally moving upwardly. However, theflow of air is not so great as to cause condoms 24 disposed in chamber26 from flowing out of chamber 26 through upper opening 25. Agitator 36ensures that the condoms do not bunch together.

A plurality of vacuum ports 40 are fluidly connected to a fixed vacuumring 42 that is disposed atop of an upper wall 39 of housing 13 (seeFIGS. 8 and 9). Vacuum ring 42 is fluidly connected to a plurality ofcondom receiving cylinders 43, which are partially disposed withinchamber 26. Cylinders 43 have an open bottom end 44 so that they mayreceive a condom 24 floating within chamber 26. Cylinders 43 arerotatably driven along with housing 13 with respect to fixed vacuum ring42. A rotating pivoting block 46 is connected to upper wall 39 ofhousing 13. Each block 46 rotates at the same speed as housing 13. Thereis one block 46 for every cylinder 43.

The internal surface of cylinder 43 gradually tapers at the top to asmall diameter opening 45. The shape of the internal surface of cylinder43 is similar to the shape of a soda bottle. Block 46 includes arelatively narrow opening 54, which is approximately the same size asopening 45, that fluidly communicates with vacuum ring 42, and, whenblock 46 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 9, fluidly communicateswith chamber 26 via opening 45 in cylinder 43. Block 46 includes anouter projecting cam 30 follower 48 that rides under a fixed cam 50,which forms a complete 360° circumference thereby defining an upperlimit position for block 46. For a portion of its 360° rotation, camfollower 48 rides over a bottom fixed cam 52. Bottom fixed cam 52 causesblock 46 to pivot up and away from upper surface 53 of cylinder 43. Inmost cases, by the time block 46 rotates to the unload position, acondom 24 will be received at the upper portion of cylinder 43 andtrapped, due to the suction force applied by the vacuum in vacuum ring42, at the narrow opening 54 in pivoting block 46. Thus, when block 46is pivoted upwardly into the unload position, as illustrated in theupper right hand portion of FIG. 8, the tip of condom 24 is lifted outof cylinder 43 due to the vacuum holding force applied by vacuum ring42. At the same time, a condom pick up tube 56 is rotating about acentral shaft 58 and aligns with the open space created between theupwardly pivoted block 46 and the upper surface 53 of cylinder 43.Because the suction force applied by tube 56 is relatively stronger thanthe suction force applied by the vacuum in vacuum ring 42, the condom istransferred from block 46 and cylinder 43 into pick up tube 56.

The plurality of pick up tubes 56 rotate about a fixed central shaft 58(See FIG. 10). There is one pick up tube 56 for every cylinder 43. Tubes56 are fixedly connected to a disk 60 that is mounted on a sleeve 57that rotates about shaft 58. Each pick up tube 56 is connected, by aflexible tube 62, to a loading tube 64. Loading tubes 64 are fixedlyconnected to a front turret plate 66, which is also connected to sleeve57 and rotatably driven about shaft 58. Thus, plate 66 and disk 60rotate about shaft 58 at the same speed. Disk 60 is rotatably driven bymotor 22 via belt drive 61 (see FIGS. 2 and 10). Each loading tube 64has an open end 67. Open end 67 of loading tube 64 is aligned with oneof a plurality of jugs 68, when the jug is pivoted into the loadingposition. Each loading tube 64 is also supported by a front mountingbracket 65. Each bracket 65 supports two loading tubes 64 (see FIG. 13).Bracket 65 is fixedly mounted on a rotating mounting disk 74. Each jug68 is connected, via vacuum line 70, to a rotating mounting plate 72.Vacuum line 70 is the source of the suction force applied by pick uptube 56. Each jug 68 is pivotably connected to a rotating mounting disk74. Both plate 72 and disk 74 rotate about central shaft 58 at the samespeed as disk 60 and plate 66. Each jug 68 pivots between a loadingposition, as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11 and FIG. 13 (in phantom), and atransport position as illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 (in solid lines) and14.

Each jug 68 is fixedly connected to an arm 104. Arm 104 is fixedlyconnected to a shaft 106, which is fixedly connected to housing 108.Shaft 106 extends through mounting disk 74 and is rotatably connected todisk 74. A cam 110 is fixedly connected to housing 108 by a connectingarm 109, thereby permitting jug assembly 69 to pivot between the loadingposition and the transport position depending upon the position of cam110 within a cam groove 111 that is disposed on an axial end face 113 ofa fixed cam drum 88.

A plurality of shafts 78 are mounted between rotating plate 66 androtating disk 74. There is one shaft 78 for each cylinder 43. Aplurality of slide blocks 76 are each axially slidably mounted on twoshafts 78. A first bellows tube 80 is connected about each shaft 78between plate 66 and slide block 76. A second bellows tube 82 is mountedabout each shaft 78 between slide block 76 and disk 74. Thus, thebellows tubes prevents any stray pieces of debris from coming in contactwith shaft 78, which may interrupt the sliding movement of slide block76. Slide block 76 includes a first cam follower 84 fixedly mountedthereto, which rides in a cam groove 86 in the circumferential surfaceof fixed drum 88. Thus, as plate 66 and disk 74 rotate, each slide block76 moves along the shaft 78 depending upon the position of itsrespective cam follower 84 within groove 86. A second cam follower 89depends downwardly from slide block 76. Cam follower 89 rides in asecond groove 92 in the circumferential surface of fixed cam drum 88. Afinger assembly housing 94 is fixedly connected to each cam block 76.

When a condom 24 is received within jug 68 from loading tube 64, the jugis in the loading position (see FIG. 11). The ring 96 of condom 24 isreceived at a first end cap 98 of jug 68. Condom 24 is drawn against afront end face 101 of end cap 98 by a vacuum that is supplied fromconduit 71. However, condom 24 is haphazardly bunched-up against theaxial front end face 101. End face 101 has a crosshair shaped opening99, which prevents the ring 96 of condom 24 from entering the jug 68. Asecond conduit 100 is connected to the first end cap 98 of jug 68.Conduit 100 fluidly connects to four fluid ports 102 to blow air inagainst the bunched-up condom 24. The air flow from conduit 100 issufficient to partially overcome the vacuum from conduit 71, therebycausing condom ring 96 to move back into the tube 64 to a position wherethe condom is elongated. The tip end of condom 24 is still retainedagainst axial end face 101 due to the vacuum from conduit 71. The condom24 is now ready to be moved into jug 68, tip end first, as illustratedin FIG. 11. Once condom 24 has been elongated, a vacuum is applied to aninner tube 103 of jug 68, via conduit 70, thereby causing condom 24 tomove into the jug and the condom ring 96 to be properly seated on theaxial end face 101 of end cap 98.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, after the condom has been received in jug 68(i.e., loaded in the jug), the jug 68 is pivoted from the loadingposition (solid lines) to the unloading position (phantom lines).Substantially simultaneously, the finger assembly housing 94 is axiallymoved adjacent to the first axial end cap 98 of the jug 68 into a condomring engaging position (see FIGS. 12 and 14). The fingers are firstdisposed in a disengaged position, as illustrated in solid lines inFIGS. 12 and 13. Fingers 112 are simultaneously moved radially outwardlyinto the engaged position as illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 12 and 13.The radial position of fingers 112 is determined by the location of cam89 within groove 92 (See FIG. 10). When actuated, fingers 112 moveradially outwardly within the crosshair opening 99, thereby tightlyengaging the condom ring 96, as illustrated in FIG. 14. The cam block 76is then axially moved away from jug 68, thereby loading the condom 24onto a mandrel 114. As illustrated in FIG. 13, housing 94 houses twosets of finger assemblies 112. Thus, two condoms 24 are drawn onto twoadjacent mandrels 114 by housing 94 (See FIGS. 13 and 15). As the condom24 is being loaded onto the mandrel 114, air is blown into the mandrel114 and out of the mandrel through a plurality of openings 118, therebyfacilitating the placement of condom 24 onto mandrel 114. Referring toFIG. 15, the finger housing 94 is illustrated in the mandrel loadedposition (in phantom) and in the condom ring engaging position (insolid). Once housing 94 is in the mandrel loaded position, fingers 112move radially inwardly (i.e., to a condom ring disengaged position)thereby disengaging the fingers 112 from condom ring 96 and placing thecondom 24, including ring 96, on mandrel 114.

Condom 24 is now properly loaded on mandrel 114. The mandrel assembly 18now rotates to a test roller 120. Test roller 120 is used toelectronically determine whether there are any holes in condom 24, in amanner that is known in the art. Referring now to FIG. 15, each mandrel114 is rotatably connected to plate 66. The mandrel shaft 121 extendsthrough plate 66 and is fixedly connected to a first pulley 122 and asecond pulley 124. Pulley 122 is selectively engaged by a belt 126 torotatably drive mandrel 114 about its longitudinal axis when passing bytest roll 120. A second belt 128 selectively engages pulley 124 torotatably drive mandrel 114 about its longitudinal axis as the mandrelis passing by the take-off rollers 132, 136. The mandrel 114, which hasa condom 24 placed about it, passes by test roller 120 while the mandrelshaft 121 is rotating and drum 120 is rotating in response to beingdriven by a motor 130. The circumferential speed of test roller 120 andmandrel 114 are set so that there is substantially no relative movementbetween the outer surface of the mandrel and the outer surface of thetest roller. Typically, 1200 volts is allied to the test roller. Becausethe condom is an insulator, only a trickle voltage will be seen by themandrel if the condom is intact (i.e., there are no holes in thecondom). For example, for a latex condom, if the voltage seen by themandrel is below 1.0 volts, then the condom is determined to beacceptable (i.e., good product). If there are any breaches in thecondom, then a greater voltage will be seen by the mandrel. For example,if the voltage seen by the mandrel is greater than 1.0 volts, then thecondom is determined to have a breach (i.e., bad product). If thevoltage is greater than 4.5 volts, it is assumed that the mandrel isempty and has not been loaded with a condom or has been improperlyloaded with a condom that may be a good product (i.e., a misfire). Eachmandrel 114 preferably rotates by at least two complete revolutions asit passes by test roller 120, thereby assuring that the condom iscompletely tested by the test drum.

Disk 66 continues to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow A inFIG. 19 towards a first take-off roller 132, which is driven by a motor134. First take-off roller 132 rolls the condom 24 approximately halfway up from its open ring end. A second take-off roller 136, which isdriven by motor 138, completely removes condom 24 from mandrel 114 andplaces it in a sorter assembly 20. Sorter 20 includes a rotatable sorterwheel 140 that has a plurality of sorter cups 142 mounted thereon.Sorter wheel 140 is rotatably driven by motor 22 via belt drive 141 (seeFIG. 16). Each sorter cup 142 has a vacuum applied thereto to hold thecondom to the tube for as long as needed. After receiving a rolled upcondom 24, the sorter cup 142 rotates and selectively releases thecondom from the sorter cup 142 at a predetermined station, dependingupon the results of the testing from test roller 120. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 18, the sorter wheel 140 will release the rolled upcondom 24 at a first station 144 if the condom is determined to be a badproduct, at a second station 146 if the condom is determined to be agood product and at a third station 148 if the condom is determined tobe a misfire. The rejects are simply discarded or recycled. The misfirescan be returned to the inflation tub (if any condom exists), and thegood products are forwarded to a packaging facility, preferably by aconveyor belt. The rejects and misfires are released from the sorter bya separate source of air (not shown) that override the prevailing vacuumand blows the condom from the sorter tube. However, because blowing thecondom may cause it to unroll, the good product are released from thesorter cup by simply cutting off the vacuum applied to the sorter tube.If needed, the sorter cup may also pass by a stationary arm, which actsas a plow, to remove the rolled up condom from the sorter tube at secondstation 146. Thus, the good product gently falls away from sorter cup142 at second station 146.

Having described the presently preferred exemplary embodiment of amethod and apparatus for automatically electronically testing condoms inaccordance with the present invention, it is believed that othermodifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilledin the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is, therefore,to be understood that all such modifications, variations, and changesare believed to fall within the scope of the present invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for automatically electronicallytesting condoms comprising: an inflation tub having an internal chamberfor housing a plurality of condoms; a jug assembly having a plurality ofjugs, each of said jugs having means for receiving a condom from saidinflation tub; a mandrel assembly having a plurality of mandrels, eachof said mandrels receiving a condom from one of said jugs toelectronically test said condom; a plurality of pick up tubes beingmounted on a rotating disk, each of said pick up tubes being connectedto a loading tube, and a rotating plate on which said plurality ofloading tubes are mounted, a plurality of shafts being connected betweensaid rotating plate mounting said loading tubes and a rotating platewhich each of said jugs is pivotably mounted to.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising a sorter wheel having aplurality of sorter tubes mounted thereon, each of said sorter tubesreceiving a condom from one of said mandrels.
 3. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said inflation tub includes a rotatable housing thatdefines said internal chamber.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said housing includes at least one inlet port to permit thecirculation of air into said chamber, thereby creating an air flowwithin said chamber that generally flows from a lower portion thereof toan upper portion thereof.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, furthercomprising an agitator being rotatably mounted within said chamber toprevent said condoms from bunching up within said chamber.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality ofcylinders connected to an upper wall of said housing.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein said cylinders each have an open bottomend to receive a condom floating within said chamber.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of rotatingpivoting blocks connected to an exterior portion of said upper wall ofsaid housing.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each one ofsaid blocks corresponds to one of said cylinders.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein an internal surface of said cylindergradually tapers to an open upper end opening.
 11. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein each one of said blocks includes a flowpath that selectively communicates with one of said cylinders and saidchamber, said flow path within said block continuously communicates witha fixed vacuum ring.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, whereinsaid block pivots between a load position and an unload position, insaid load position said block is in contact with said upper wall of saidhousing, in said unload position, said block is pivoted upwardly and isspaced from said upper surface of said housing.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of pick up tubesbeing mounted on a rotating disk.
 14. The apparatus according to claim13, wherein one of said pick up tubes is aligned with the space betweensaid block and said upper surface of said housing when said block is inthe unload position.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereineach of said jugs pivotably moves between a loading position and atransport position.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, whereineach of said loading tubes have an open end remote from said pick uptube, said open end of said loading tube being aligned with one of saidjugs when said jug is pivoted into a loading position.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said jugs pivotably moves betweena loading position and a transport position.
 18. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising a finger assembly being slidably mountedon two of said shafts.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, whereinsaid finger assembly housing includes at least one set of fingers thatmove between a radially inward position and a radially outward position.20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein in the radially outwardposition, said at least one set of fingers engages a condom ring. 21.The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said finger assembly isaxially moveable, when said fingers are in a radially outward positionto mount a condom onto one of said mandrels.
 22. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein each of said mandrels includes a first pulley and asecond pulley fixedly connected thereto.
 23. The apparatus according toclaim 22, wherein said first pulley is selectively engaged by a belt torotatably drive said mandrel at a first rotational speed.
 24. Theapparatus according to claim 23, wherein said second pulley isselectively engaged by a second belt to rotatably drive said mandrel ata second rotatable speed.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 24,further comprising a test roll, wherein said mandrel shaft passes bysaid test roll to electronically test said condom.
 26. The apparatusaccording to claim 25, further comprising a first take off roller toroll a condom approximately half way up on said mandrel.
 27. Theapparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a sorter wheelhaving a plurality of sorter tubes mounted thereon, each of said sortertubes receiving a condom from one of said mandrels, further comprising asecond take off roller to completely remove the partially rolled upcondom from said mandrel and place said rolled up condom in one of saidsorter tubes.
 28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein saidsorter wheel is rotatable, said sorter tube selectively releases saidrolled up condom from said sorter tube to a predetermined station independence upon the results of the testing from said test roller.
 29. Anapparatus for automatically electronically testing condoms comprising:an inflation tub having an internal chamber for housing a plurality ofcondoms; a jug assembly having a plurality of jugs, each of said jugshaving means for receiving a condom from said inflation tub; a mandrelassembly having a plurality of mandrels, each of said mandrels receivinga condom from one of said jugs to electronically test said condom;wherein said inflation tub includes a rotatable housing that definessaid internal chamber, said housing includes at least one inlet port topermit the circulation of air into said chamber, thereby creating an airflow within said chamber that generally flows from a lower portionthereof to an upper portion thereof, further comprising an agitatorbeing rotatably mounted within said chamber to prevent said condoms frombunching up within said chamber; a plurality of cylinders connected toan upper wall of said housing; and said cylinders each having an openbottom end to receive a condom floating within said chamber; a pluralityof rotating pivoting blocks connected to an exterior portion of saidupper wall of said housing, each one of said blocks corresponding to oneof said cylinders, each one of said blocks including a flow path thatselectively communicates with one of said cylinders and said chamber,said flow path within said block continuously communicating with a fixedvacuum ring; said block pivots between a load position and an unloadposition, in said load position said block is in contact with said upperwall of said housing, in said unload position, said block is pivotedupwardly and is spaced from said upper surface of said housing.